A display of books published by the Lontar Foundation, the only non-profit organization promoting Indonesia via translation of literature (JP/Stevie Emilia)
Twenty years ago, an American translator and four prominent Indonesian writers came up with the worthy idea to promote Indonesia through culture and literature abroad.
Despite little support from government, the five -- John McGlynn, Goenawan Mohamad, Sapardi Djoko Damono, Subagio Sastrowardoyo and Umar Kayam -- set up the Lontar Foundation and now it has published more than 100 books promoting several hundred Indonesian writers.
"If we've done anything, it's by beginning to put Indonesian literature on the map, primarily through the use of our books in academic institutions abroad," said McGlynn, the foundation's director of publication.
He believes the foundation has not achieved all of its initi...